Are the Beatles Responsible for Britney Spears?

We were discussing the Bing versus Elvis debate that is sweeping the United States and the conversation became an impassioned defense of the Rolling Stones. I don't know how this happened other than it was one person's effort to explain why the Beatles mean nothing to her musically and Elvis means everything. Next to the Stones, of course. (Let's be honest here: It's hard to compare Bing Crosby with Elvis Presley. She simply drew a more relevant parallel.)

But it does make you wonder: What exactly did the Beatles contribute? Bubblegum pop, she postulated.